Ski boot heel fixture



TosHlAKl KoMATsU 3,409,308

SKI BOOT HEEL FIXTURE Nov. 5, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 5, 1967 TSH/AK/ KCMA Tsd 6v /Al VENTOQ 5 415 ,5f my.,

N0V- 5, 1968 TosHlAKl KOMATSU 3,409,308

SKI BOOT HEEL FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1967 sH/Ala KQHATSU /NVENTQQ Ame/ver.

NOV- 5, 1968 Tosl-HAKI KoMATsu 3,409,308

SKI BOOT HEEL FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5, 1967 FIG. 5

FIG.

FIG. 7

/N VEA/mf ATI 0PM( y United States Patent() ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE v In this ski boot heel fixture, a base, afront lever, an;

operating lever, a connecting lever and a rear lever 'are connected in turn with pins in pairs. The rear lever is normal-ly pulled to the base by a spring. The length of the front lever is adjustable so that the height of a heel-xing roll, fixed to an arm pivoted to the said front lever, may be adjusted. The base slides in the lengthwise direction in a guide frame attached to the ski and can be fixed inV a proper position. When a skier pushes the free end of the operating lever down or up, the heel-fixing roll will be -fixed tightly in (or unfastened) from a groove in the heel of the ski boot. If an unreasonable force, in excess of the pressure of the spring, is applied to the heel, the boot will be freed from the ski.

. Description This invention relates to safety Ibinding ski equipment and more particularly to a heel fixture for removably fastening the heel of a ski boot to the ski.

At the present time the skiers boots are firmly attached to the skis by bindings made almost exclusively lof metal, with steel cables supplanting the formerly used leather straps. Various types of so-called safety bindings or release bindings have been developed to free the feet of the skier in oase of severe falls. However, in the strncture of a conventional binding of this kind, the lever operation is of a fixture in front of the ski boot. The fixture fastens the heel of the boot with a steel cable which lfits in a groove at the rear of the ski boot. The lever acts against the pressure of a spring from the beginning to the end. A considerable force is required, therefore, to engage and disengage it, which causes some inconveniences,

An object of the present invention is to provide a ski boot heel lfixture which is attached to the ski in the rear of a ski boot. The Iboot may be positively and strongly pressed and retained to the ski by a very simple operation of pushing down an oper-ating lever. Especially in the last period of pushing down the operating lever, only a light force need be applied to engage or disengage it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski boot heel fixture wherein .a tightening force of the heel can be properly adjusted depending on the weight and skill of the user and on the objectives of using the ski. The heel is securely tightened; however, in case an unreasonable force exceeding a certain degree is applied during skiing, that is, just -before a dangerous state, the boot will be disengaged.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ski boot heel fixture wherein a boot can be firmly fixed to the ski irrespective of the sizes lof boots and the heights of engaging grooves made in the heels of skiing boots.

According to the present invention, live links consisting of a base, a front lever, an operating lever, a connecting lever and a rear lever 'are connected respectively with pins to form a chain. A spring provided to pull said rear lever to the end surface of the base is fitted between the rear lever and the base.

ICC

Unless the motion of the front lever is obstructed, a slight force will be suiicient for the skier to move up and down the free end ofthe operating lever, which is a driver, in order to rock the front lever, which is its follower.

An arm provided with a roll having a shape fitting in with a groove made in the heel of the ski boot is pivoted to this front lever. When this roll engages with the groove made in the heel of the boot, the front lever will be as if in a fixed state. Therefore, in order to further push down the free end of the operating lever, the skier must exert a force against the pressure of the spring pulling the rear lever to the end surface of the base. Such a force will be only required for .a very slight portion of the entire operating period.

When the pivoting point of the operating lever and the connecting lever is positioned on a straight line connecting the pivoting point of the front lever and the operating lever and that of the connecting lever and the rear lever, the spring will lbe extended to the maximum and a maximum force will be then required. But, when the pivoting point of the operating lever and the connecting lever cornes below the above-mentioned straight line, the restoring force of the spring will push down the operating lever until it comes into contact with the connecting lever, even if no more push-down force is applied to the operating lever. The degree of extension of the spring in this state determines the pressing force which the boot heel receives from the heel-fixing roll. As the degree of extension of the spring is proportional to the displacement angle of the front lever, the force xing the boot to the ski is determined by the separation between the boot heel and the base. The front lever preferably is adjustable in its length, i.e., a turnbuckle, to adjust the height of the arm pivoted thereto, so that the heel-fixing roll fitted to said arm may just engage with the groove made in the heel of the boot.

In accordance with the present invention, the base is provided having means which engage the base with the guide frame. The guide frame is attached to the ski at the rear of the boot. The base is movable lengthwise along the ski and can be fixed in a suitable position. When an unreasonable force in excess of the pressure of the spring is applied to the heel of the skier, the front lever will escape rearward, the boot will disenga-ge from the ski. Therefore, dangers such as a bone fracture will be prevented.

In order to make it easier to understand the other objects and features of the present invention, la detailed explanation shall be made in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ski boot heel fixture according to the present invention in which the operating lever 1s up;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the ski boot heel fixture illustrated in FIG. l in which the operating lever is down;

FIG. 3 is a vertically sectioned side view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a vertically sectioned side view of the same as the operating lever is more down than in the position as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontally sectioned plan view on line V--V in FIG. 4 as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow;

FIG. 6 is a vertically sectioned back view on Aline VI-VI in FIG. 4 as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a combination of a guide frame and a base as seeny from the back; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the base.

A preferable embodiment of the present invention shall be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown clearly in FIG. 7, a guide frame representeduby a numeral is integrally formed of right and left side frames 11 arranged in parallel in a proper spacing, a front connector 12 connecting the front end parts of both side frames and a middle connector 13 connecting the substantially middle parts of both side frames. Fixing -holes 14 for fixing the Iguide frame 10 to a ski are made in both side frames 11. The first guiding projecting piece 15 extends from the rear end edge of the side frame 11 to the middle connector 13. The second guiding projecting piece 16 extends from a position at some distance from the middle connector 13 to the front connector 12. The guiding projecting pieces 15 and 16 respectively project facing each other on the inside Walls of, both side frames, forming some separation from the bottom surface.

The middle connector 13 has an elevated part 18 positioned at the substantially center thereof. The elevated part 18 has a through screw hole 17 made in the lengthwise direction of the guide frame 10. A projection 19 is provided on the bottom surface of the middle connector 13. The guide frame 10 is made preferably of an aluminum die-casting.

As shown clearly in FIG. 8, a base 20 is integrally formed of a front leg 23 and a rear leg 24 having respectively outward directed horizontal iianges 21 and 22 at the lower ends, a connecting part 25, and triangular plates 26 erect on both sides of the connecting part 25. The base is also made preferably of an aluminum diecasting.

In order to engage and disengage the base 20 with the guide frame 10 attached to the ski, the distance between the front leg 23 and the rear leg 24 is made substantially equal to the distance between the rear end of the guide frame 10 and the left end of the middle connector 13. The width in the lengthwise direction of the front leg 23 is made substantially equal to the distance between the right end of the guiding projecting piece 16 and the left end of the middle connector 13. The flanges 21 and 22 of the base 20 are so made as to be received and retained respectively by the guiding projecting pieces 15, 16 of the guide frame 10.

A bolt 28 having a head 28 passes through a hole 27 made in the rear leg 24 and is screwed into the through screw hole 17 made in the guide frame 10. Washers 29 and 29 are fitted on the bolt 28, being respectively in contact with the rear end surface and the front end surface of the rear leg 24. When the head 28 of the bolt 28 is rotated, the base 20 will move forward or rearward along the guide yframe 10 so as to be set in a proper position. On the contrary, a screw thread may be made in the hole 27 so that the bolt 28 to be screwed with the screw thread `may be rotatably fitted to the guide frame 10.

A front lever 31, an operating lever 32, a connecting lever 33 and a rear lever 34 are rotatably pivoted respectively with pins 42, 43 and 44. The front lever 31 is rotatably pivoted at the other end with a pin 41 fitted between frame plates 26 in the front part of the base 20. The rear'lever 34 is rotatably pivoted at the other end with a pin 45 fitted to the rear leg 24. When the skier moves up and down the operating lever 32, the respective levers will be displaced. The front lever 31 is preferably a turnbuckle whose length is finely adjustable. As shown in FIG. 3, an upper metal piece 37 is rotatably connected through a ring 38 to the upper end of a female-screwed cylinder 36 which is screwed with a male screw 35. Instead of the ring, a female screw may be made in the upper metal piece 37 so as to be screwed with the upper end of the female-screwed cylinder 36. A roll 47 is rotatably fitted to an arm 48 fixed to the pin 42. The roll 47 is so shaped that it substantially fits in with a groove made in the lheel of a ski boot. The roll 47 is preferably of a synthetic resin.

A cut-off part 49 in the arm 48 is so made as to allow the roll 47 to lower. A metal piece 40 is fixed to the pin 42 so as to keep the skiers foot on Ia string (not illustrated) in case the foot disengages from the ski.

A spring 50 is connected at one end with a metal piece 51 pivoted to a pin46. The spring 50 has a hooked portion at the other end hung on the pin 44, so that the rear lever 34 is pulled to be in Contact withthe s ide .end surfaces of the rear leg 24. Alternatively, Ithe-spring may be adjusted as to its force (not shown),r; for example, by connecting the end 52 to a turnbuckle "which is attached at its other end to pin 44. Y

A heel-tting plate 70 positioned V at the front end of the guide frame`10 and a bottom surface 71 overlapped on the bottom surface of the guide frame 10 by means of the projection 19 of the middle connector,13 are integrally fixed together with the guide framew 10 to lthe ski. 'Y

When the operating lever 32 is pushed down from -the raised position as shown in FIG. 3 to the position'as shown in FIG. 4, the rear lever 34 'will be pulled to the side end surface of the base 20 vby the spring 50, and the front lever 31 will move forward around the pin 41 as a center. No force is required for this operation.

When the roll 47 comes into contact with the groove in the heel of the boot, the front lever 31 will be stopped inclining. However, when the operating lever 32 is further pushed down, the rear lever 34 will be forced to incline rearward around the pin 45 and at'the same ltime the spring 50 will be extended. In case of this operation a force will be required.

When the pin 43 further comes below the straight line connecting the pins 42 and 44, the restoring force ofthe spring 50 will now tend to push down the operating lever 32 through the connecting lever 33. This operation no longer requires any force. Then, the operating lever 32 will stop lowering in contact with the connecting lever 33. The tongue-shaped part 32 at the front end of the operating lever 32 will come into contact with the arcuate surface on the outer periphery of the upper metal piece 37 and, by its friction, the operating lever 32 will be positively stopped in its lowermost position.

When the base 20 is positioned close to the heel of the boot, the front lever 31 will incline forward a little, but the rear lever 34 will incline rearward, relatively much. At the same time the spring 50 will be extended so relatively much that the boot may be firmly fixed to the ski.

When an external force is given through the boot to the front lever 31 and further extends the extended spring, the boot will be disengaged from this heel fixture.

When the position of the base 20 is properly adjusted by rotating the bolt 28, the upper surfaces of the flanges 21, 22 of the legs 23, 24 will slide on the lower surfaces of the projections 15, 16 of the guide frame 10. In such a structure impurities will be little bitten in on the sliding surfaces and adjustment will be easily done.

I claim:

1. A ski boot heel fixture comprising, in combination, a base, a front lever pivoted to the front part of the base, an operating lever pivoted at one end to the front lever and free at its other end, a connecting lever pivoted to an intermediate part of the operating lever, a rear lever pivoted at one end to the connecting lever and at the other end to the rear part of the said base, a spring pulling the said rear lever toward the front of said base,a pressing member connected to said front lever, a guide frame engaging with the said base and adapted to be attached to the ski, the said base being able to slide on the said guide frame, and adjusting means to fix said base relative to said guide in a suitable position.

2. A ski boot heel fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressing member is adapted to fit in a groove in the ski boot heel, said pressing member is attached to an arm, and said arm is pivoted on said front lever.

43. A ski boot heel fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said front lever is a turnbuckle of a variable length.

4. A ski boot heel fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means whereby the said -base slides on the said guide frame and is xed in a suitable position, includes a through screw hole made in the lengthwise direction in said guide frame and a bolt rotatably litted to said base and screwed into said through screw hole.

5. A ski boot heel fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base is integrally formed of a front leg and a rear leg through a connecting part, each of the legs having outwardly directed horizontal anges at its lower ends, and said guide frame has front guide projections and rear guide projections projecting on the insides of side frames of the guide frame and integrally connected at their respective front ends 4respectively to a front connector and a middle connector, said base thereby being litted removably to said guide frame.

6. A ski boot heel xture as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring is connected at one end with a metal piece UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,851,278 9/1958 Berlenbach 280\-11.35 3,291,500 12/1966 Voster et al. 2SC-11.35 3,328,044 6/1967 Klamt 280-11.35 3,351,354 11/1967 Smolka et al. 280-ll.35 3,337,226 8/1967 Kato 280-1135 3,361,435 l/1968 Hvam ZEG-11.35

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

L. D. MORRIS, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

